The driver of a semi tanker truck escaped injury Thursday night, after his rig struck the pier of an overpass on the Purchase Parkway and shut down traffic.
Marshall County Sheriff Kevin Byars said the driver was traveling north on the Purchase Parkway about 8:30 p.m. Thursday, when for unknown reasons the rig jack-knifed and collided with the pier of Ky. Highway 408 overpass at the 42-mile marker near Benton. Byars said no one was injured in the collision.
However, substantial debris in the road and a spill of as much as 100 gallons of diesel fuel on scene resulted in the closure of both north and south bound lanes. Crews, as of 11 p.m. Thursday, remained on scene working to clear the roadway. This is along the Parkway between the US 641 Exit 41 interchange and the KY 348 Benton Exit 43 interchange.
Traffic is being detoured through Benton via KY 58 and US 641. Northbound traffic on US 641 from Murray should take US 641 through Benton to reconnect with the Purchase Parkway at Exit 434.
According to KYTC, bridge inspection crews had arrived to examine the overpass and found the pier suffered some superficial damage but no structural damage. Ky. 408 reopened for travel about 10:45 p.m.
Crews expect to have debris cleared from the road and the Parkway opened for travel about 1:30 a.m.
The investigation remains ongoing.